Bullet-shell assembly having a spring for propelling the bullet



1968 n. L. CROSMAN 3,369,534

BULLET-SHELL ASEEMBLY HAVING A SPRING FOR PROPELLING THE BULLET FiledMay 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG].

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INVENTOR.

Joel/M10 Z ceosmnu' BY 8 2 I 7 ATTO R N EYS Feb. 20, 1968 D. L. CROSMANBULLET-SHELL ASSEMBLY HAVING A SPRING FOR PROPELLING THE BULLET 2Sheets-Shet 2 Filed May 26, 1965 wv wvwi x ow $oe4auo 1. abs/M441 BY v gI a I I ZATTORNEYS 3,369,534 BULLET-SHELL ASSEMBLY HAVING A SPRING FORPROPELLING THE BULLET Dorland L. Crosman, Glen Ridge, N.J., assignor toDe Luxe Reading Corporation, Elizabeth, N.J., a corporation of NewJersey Filed May 26, 1965, Ser. No. 459,051 17 Claims. (Cl. 12426)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Bullet and shell joined by releasablelatching means. Coiled spring within shell is stressed when bullet andshell are joined. Shell open at both ends. Latch is released and springpropels bullet when a blow strikes (1) a separate member within shellbehind bullet (FIGS. 16), or (2) a post projecting from bullet itself(FIGS. 7-12).

This invention relates generally to toy firearms, and has particularreference to an improved assembly of parts defining a toy cartridge.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a relatively harmlesslight-weight spring-actuated device which realistically simulates anexplosive cartridge. The simulation relates not only to externalappearance but also to the mode of introducing the cartridge into a toygun and subsequently bringing about a forceful separation of abullet-simulating element from a shell element.

A more particular objective of the invention is to pronited StatesPatent Office vide an assembly of the general character referred to, in

which the bullet and the shell are composed of relatively inexpensivematerial, preferably acetal resin or the like, adapted to be injectionmolded. The parts are'thus of light weight, adapted to be manufacturedin commercial quantities at low cost, and of durable and wear-resistantcharacter. A more particular objective is to provide an assembly thatcan be readily put together after each firing and thus reused manytimes.

One of the features of the invention resides in the employment of asmall spring of coiled type so associated with the shell and bulletelements that itbecomes stressed whenever the parts are assembled andexpends its stored energy to propel the bullet from the shell wheneverthe cartridge is fired by sudden pressure upon a part resembling agenuine firing pin. The 'bullet and the shell are provided withcooperating releasable latching means, and the firing of the cartridgeis brought about by releasing the latch and allowing the tensionedspring to become effective. In one embodiment of the invention, the

release of the latch is brought about by a blow directed against a postforming part of the bullet element itself; in another embodiment thefiring force is directed against a separate element which acts upon thelatch to release it.

These two embodiments of the invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, which are illustrative of the manner in which theobjectives and advantages of the invention may be achieved. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a toy cartridge assembly adapted for usewith a toy pistol;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the assembled cartridge;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a similar view at the instant of firing, showing how thebullet is released;

FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-section along the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-section along the line 66 of FIG. 3;

3,369,534? Patented Feb. 20, 1968 FIG. 7 is an exploded view similar toFIG. 1, of a modified toy cartridge assembly adapted for use with a toyrifle;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the assembled cartridge whose parts areshown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-section;

FIG. 10 is a similar view at the instant of firing; and

FIGS. 11 and 12 are transverse cross-sectional views along the lines1111 and 12-12 of FIG. 9, respectively.

The cartridge assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 is adapted for use withtoy pistols. The parts entering into the device are shown in FIG. 1 andcomprise a cylindrical shell 20, a coiled compression spring 21, aspecial element 22 defining a blow-receiving anvil 23 at its rear end,and a bullet element 24.

The bullet 24 is of light-weight inexpensive plastic, preferably of thetype that can be injection molded. It embodies a hollow rounded fronthead 25, posts 26 extending rearwardly, and one or more latching fingers27 also extending rearwardly. The parts 25, 26 and 27 are formed of asingle element. In the device illustrated there are two diametricallyopposed fingers 27, arranged in alternate relation to the two posts 26which are also set in diametric opposition. The fingers 27 are of suchsize and cross-sectional configuration that they are resilientlydeflectable. At their rear ends they are provided with outwardlydirected parts 28 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) defining forwardly-directedlatching shoulders.

The shell element 20 is of simple cylindrical nature. Near its forwardend it is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed openings 29, theforward ends of which define rearwardly-directed latching shoulders 30adapted to cooperate with the shoulders 28. If desired, the innersurface of the forward end of the shell may be chamfered at points inlongitudinal alignment with the openings 29in order to facilitateinsertion of the bullet into the shell.

Near the rear end of the shell 20 it is provided on the interior with apair of opposed projections 31 defining shoulders 32 (FIG. 3) againstwhich the rear end of the compression spring 21 can rest.

When the parts are pressed together, the posts 26 on the bullet pressrearwardly against the front end of the spring 21, and as the rearwardmovement of the bullet continues, the spring 21 becomes compressed. Itis held in this compressed condition when the shoulders 28 on thefingers 27 latch themselves behind the shoulders 30 on the shell element20.

During the assembly of the parts the element 22 is also insertedrearwardly into the shell 20. Directly in advance of he anvil-like rearend 23 there is a reduced portion 33 that positions itself slidablywithin the confines of the shell part 31. To bring the element 22 intothis position it must be pressed rearwardly into the shell withsufiicient force to deflect the parts 31 so that the slightly enlargedrear end can assume the disposition shown in FIGS. 3

and 4.

The body of the element 22 has an external diameter less than theinternal diameter of the shell 20, so that the spring 21 may beaccommodated between these parts. At its forward end the firing pin 22has a radially enlarged part 34 whose forwardly-directed surface 35 isoutwardly inclined (see FIGS. 3 and 4) so that it can engage therearwardly inclined end surfaces 36 of the latch fingers 27. When thefiring pin 22 is moved forwardly, i.e., from the position of FIG. 3 tothat of FIG. 4, the surfaces 35 and 36 cooperate to cam the springfingers 27 radially inward, thus releasing the shoulder 28 from theshoulders 30 and freeing the bullet 24 so that the compressed spring 21can exert a forwardly propelling force upon the posts 26.

When the cartridge is fired (by a blow upon the rear face of the firingpin 22) the bullet is thus propelled forwardly and separated from theshell 20. However, the element 2 2, the spring 21, and the shell 20remain assembled. When the bullet is retrieved, it can be reinsertedinto. the shell by simply pressing it rearwardly, with the fingers 27 inalignment with the openings 29 in the shell. As a result, the shoulders28 can be readily latched behind the shoulders 30, to re-stress thespring 21 and place the assembly into condition for the subsequentfiring. To permit this reassembly of the parts to take place, theenlarged front end 34 of the, firing pin is provided with openings 37adapted to permit passage through them of the posts 26. The element 22is also provided with longitudinal channels 38 aligned with the openings37 and guiding the posts 26 as they move rearwardly.

If desired, the rear anvil face 23 of the firing pin can be covered witha conventional toy percussion cap (not shown) so that when the hammer orequivalent element of the toy pistol strikes the anvil of the firingpin, the action will be accompanied by a noise and by the release ofsome smoke. Caps of the character referred to are readily available onthe market, and are adapted to be adhesively applied. In thisconnection, it should be mentioned that the pin 22 is preferably formedof metal so that the anvil 23 is provided with suificient mass todetonate a cap when the latter receives a blow from the hammer of thepistol.

The cartridge assembly can be made to resemble a real cartridge quiteclosely, and its use in the toy pistol can also be quite realistic.Thus, a forward motion of a slide or bolt on the pistol can chamber it,while a backward motion can withdraw the shell from the chamber andeject it after the bullet has been fired. The cartridge assembly lendsitself also to association with others in the form of a clip to be fedinto automatic-type pistols.

In FIGS. 7-12 a cartridge assembly is shown in Which the spring employedis a tension spring rather than a compression spring, and in which thefiring force of a hammer or the like can be directed against an elementforming part of the bullet itself. Thus, the cartridge assembly consistsof only three component parts, as shown in FIG. 7.

The cartridge assembly shown in FIGS. 712 is relatively elongated,compared to the device of FIGS. 1-6, and is intended primarily for toyrifles. The cylinder 40 is in this case provided with a rearwardlydirected shoulder 41 near its front end. This shoulder can be providedin the form of an annulus by enlarging the front end of the cylinderradially inward. The surface defined by the shoulder 41 is preferablyinclined at about 45 to the cylinder axis. A short distance toward therear, the cylinder 40 is provided with lateral openings 42, preferablyarranged diametrically opposite to each other. The cylinder wall isslightly thickened at the rear edge of each opening, as indicated at 43,to provide a ledge against which the foremost turn or turns of thetension spring 44 may be anchored.

This spring 44 has its coils of gradually reduced diameter at its rearend, as shown at 45. During the assembly of the parts by themanufacturer the spring 44 is introduced forwardly into the shellelement 40 and its front turn or turns are snagged over the ledge orledges 43. The spring and shell remain thus associated during subsequentusage of the device.

The bullet is in this case provided with an enlarged rounded front end46 and an elongated rearwardly extending post or tem 47 of reducedexternal diameter. Near the forward end of the post 47 it is providedwith a pair of diametrically opposed wedge-shaped enlargements 48. Theforwardly-facing end of each enlargement is inclined to the longitudinalaxis of the post 47 and constitutes a forwardly-directed latchingshoulder 49 (see FIG. adapted to cooperate with the rearwardly-directedshoulder 41 formed on the shell element 40.

When the bullet element is introduced rearwardly into the shell 40, therear end of the post 47 come into contact with and frictionally engagesthe reduced-diameter coils at the rear end 45 of the spring 44. As aresult, continued rearward pressure upon the bullet stretches the springinto the tensioned condition shown in FIG. 9. It is retained in thisstressed condition when the wedgeshaped enlargements 48 force their waythrough the front end of the cylinder 40 to allow the shoulders 49 and41 to come into latched relationship. Thereafter, the firing force of ahammer or the like, exerted in the direction of the arrows 50 of FIGS. 8and 10 against the rear end of the post 47 presses the bullet forwardlyso as to free the shoulders 49 from the restraining shoulders 41 (FIG.10). This release allows the tensioned spring 44 to exert its forwardpressure upon the bullet which is thereupon suddenly and forcefullypropelled from the shell assembly as indicated by dot-dash lines in FIG.8.

The material of which the shell element 40 is made (e.g., a moldedplastic such as acetal resin or any of its equivalents) is sufficientlyflexible to allow the front end to be momentarily distorted intoelliptical configuration whenever the enlargements 48 on the post 47 areforced either rearwardly or forwardly. The yieldability of the plasticis of an elastic nature, so that the distortion is always immediatelyfollowed by a return of the front end of the shell to the truly circularshape. It is this elasticity that allows the shoulders 41 and 48 to berepeatedly brought into latching engagement and forcefully released fromsuch engagement as indicated in FIG. 10. It should be noted that thisdesirable result is attainable primarily because the enlargements 48 arein diametric opposition to each other, thus allowing a momentarydistortion of the front end of the shell from circular to ellipticalshape, and back again. Obviously, a single enlargement might besufficient for this purpose, although more reliable and symmetricalaction is achieved by having two enlargements 48, as shown.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a toy cartridge ofsimple structural character, inexpensive from a manufacturingstandpoint, light in weight and relatively harmless, and usable overlong periods of time with toy pistols and similar fireams that can beloaded and fired realistically and repeatedly.

It will be understood that many of the details herein described andillustrated may be modified by those skilled in the art withoutnecessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy cartridge assembly, comprising:

a shell open at both ends and having at least one rearwardly directedlatching shoulder integral with the remainder of the shell,

a coiled spring within the shell supported at one end and free at theother,

a bullet provided with at least one forwardly directed latchingshoulder,

said shoulders being cooperatively adapted to interengage in releasablelatched relationship;

and a post on the bullet adapted to press upon the free spring end todeform the spring into stressed condition when the shoulders are latchedtogether,

and surface means operatively associated with said bullet and disposedwithin the shell to receive the blow of a hammer passing'forwardlythrough the rear opening of the shell for releasing said latchedengagement, whereby disengagement of said shoulders allows the stressedspring to propel the bullet from the shell.

2. A toy cartridge assembly comprising:

a shell open at both ends and having at least one rearwardly directedlatching shoulder integral with the remainder of the shell,

a coiled compression spring within the shell supported at its rear end,

a firing pin coaxial with the shell and extending through said spring tosuch an extent that the rearwardmost portion thereof may be struck by ahammer passing through the open rear end of the shell,

a bullet provided with at least one latching finger,

said finger and shoulder being cooperatively adapted to interengage inreleasable latched relationship,

post means on the bullet adapted to press rearwardly against andcompress said spring when the finger and shoulder are latched together,and

means for releasing said latched engagement when the rear end of the pinis struck by a hammer, whereby the compressed spring thereupon propelsthe bullet from the shell.

3. A toy cartridge assembly as defined in claim 2, there being at leasttwo diametrically positioned latching fingers and at least twocorrespondingly located latching shoulders.

4. A toy cartridge assembly as defined in claim 2, in

which said release means comprises cooperating cam surfaces on saidfiring pin and finger.

5. A toy cartridge assembly as defined in claim 3, in which theshoulders in the shell are defined by openings in the shell wall, and inwhich the fingers on the bullet have outwardly directed complementaryshoulders for engagement with said shell shoulders.

6. A toy cartridge assembly as defined in claim 5, in which said fingersare composed of resiliently defiectable material and are configured tosnap into resiliently releasable engagement with the shell when thebullet and shell are pressed together.

7. A toy cartridge assembly as defined in claim 3, in which the fingerson the bullet have latching shoulders at their ends whose outer surfacesconverge rearwardly, and in which said release means comprisescooperating cam surfaces on the firing pin adapted to engage saidconvergent surfaces and wedge the fingers radially inward.

8. A toy cartridge assembly as defined in claim 3 in which said bulletis a single element of molded plastic having a hollow rounded fronthead, said fingers and posts extending rearwardly from said head inalternate circumferential array.

9. A toy cartridge assembly as defined in claim 2, in which said firingpin has a radially enlarged front end lying in advance of said spring,said enlarged end having an opening through which said post extends.

10. A toy cartridge assembly as defined in claim 9, said firing pinbeing also provided with a longitudinal channel adapted to accommodateand guide said post.

11. A toy cartridge assembly comprising:

an open-ended shell having a rearwardly directed latching shoulder,

a coiled tension spring within the shell supported at its forward end,

a bullet provided with a forwardly directed latching shoulder,

said shoulders being cooperatively adapted to interengage in releasablelatched relationship,

and a post on the bullet extending rearward through said spring andadapted to press upon the rear spring end to deform the spring intostressed condition when the shoulders are latched together,

whereby disengagement of said shoulders allows the stressed spring topropel the bullet from the shell.

12. A toy cartridge assembly as defined in claim 11, in which one ofsaid shoulders is composed of resiliently yieldable material so thatforward pressure upon the rear end of said post can initiate relativemovement of said shoulders to disengage them.

13. A toy cartridge assembly as defined in claim 12, in which saidshoulders are inclined at about 45 to the shell axis.

14. A toy cartridge assembly as defined in claim 11, in which theshoulder on the shell is an annulus defined by the rear surface of a lipat the front end of the shell, and in which the shoulder on the bulletis defined by a lateral projection on said post, said lip being composedof resiliently deformable material to allow said projection to passrearwardly through the lip when the shoulders are to be latched andforwardly when the bullet is to be propelled.

15. A toy cartridge assembly as defined in claim 14, there being two ofsaid projections on the post, at diametrically opposite locations.

16. A toy cartridge assembly as defined in claim 11, in which theforward end of the spring is supported on an internal projection on theshell wall and the rear end of the spring is attenuated to provide afooting for said post.

17. A toy cartridge assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said bulletand shell are formed of molded plastic, and said firing pin is formed ofmetal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,284,497 11/ 19 18 Vidaver 124263,154,062 10/1964 Ryan 124-16 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Examiner.

W. R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner.

